The race for the prestigious Oscars in the visual effects category has narrowed down to a shortlist of 20 films. According to multiple sources, the finalists feature a blend of anticipated blockbusters and franchise entries, with major studios such as Disney, Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, Paramount, and Netflix leading the way. The announcement comes just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, a pivotal time for filmmakers and studios.
Among the notable contenders is James Cameron‘s highly awaited third installment of the “Avatar” franchise, titled “Avatar: Fire and Ash”, produced by 20th Century Studios. The film is set to screen for guild members and critics starting on November 30. Another significant entry from the same studio is Dan Trachtenberg‘s “Predator: Badlands,” marking the seventh film in the iconic sci-fi-horror series.
Marvel Studios is also well represented with two films in the mix. “Captain America: Brave New World” and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” showcase the studio’s ongoing commitment to delivering visually stunning superhero narratives. Additionally, Walt Disney Pictures contributes with its own entries, including “Lilo and Stitch” and “Tron: Ares”.
In a competitive showing, Warner Bros. Discovery ranks second among studios with significant entries. The films include Bong Joon Ho‘s black comedy “Mickey 17”, Jared Hess‘s adaptation of a popular video game, “A Minecraft Movie”, and Ryan Coogler‘s gothic vampire drama, “Sinners.” Warner Bros. also co-distributed Joseph Kosinski‘s race car drama “F1,” alongside Apple Original Films, which produced the film.
Universal Pictures has made a strong impression with three films expected to perform well in 2025. The titles include “Wicked: For Good,” directed by Jon M. Chu, “How to Train Your Dragon,” a live-action remake directed by Dean DeBlois, and “Jurassic World: Rebirth,” directed by Gareth Edwards.
Netflix adds to its accolades with Guillermo del Toro‘s adaptation of “Frankenstein,” a frontrunner for best picture, and “The Electric State,” featuring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt. Paramount Pictures rounds out the list with Edgar Wright‘s remake of “The Running Man” and the final installment in the Tom Cruise action series, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences does not publicly release the Top 20 finalists, and it has refrained from confirming the films that advanced to this stage. The preliminary voting period for the Oscars shortlist is set to begin on December 8 at 09:00 PT and will conclude on December 12 at 17:00 PT. The shortlisted films across 12 categories will be publicly announced on December 16.
Following the shortlisting process, the Visual Effects bake-offs will take place on January 10-11, where the final 10 films will present to Academy members for nomination consideration. Voting for all branches is scheduled from January 12 to 16, with the nominations to be revealed on January 22. The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is slated for March 15, 2026.
The complete list of the Top 20 finalists is as follows:
– “Avatar: Fire and Ash” (20th Century Studios)
– “Captain America: Brave New World” (Marvel Studios)
– “The Electric State” (Netflix)
– “F1” (Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.)
– “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (Marvel Studios)
– “Frankenstein” (Netflix)
– “How to Train Your Dragon” (Universal Pictures)
– “Jurassic World: Rebirth” (Universal Pictures)
– “Lilo and Stitch” (Walt Disney Pictures)
– “The Lost Bus” (Apple Original Films)
– “Mickey 17” (Warner Bros.)
– “A Minecraft Movie” (Warner Bros.)
– “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” (Paramount Pictures)
– “Predator: Badlands” (20th Century Studios)
– “The Running Man” (Paramount Pictures)
– “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
– “Superman” (DC Studios)
– “Thunderbolts” (Marvel Studios)
– “Tron: Ares” (Walt Disney Pictures)
– “Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
This year’s selection reflects a diverse array of genres and storytelling styles, showcasing the remarkable advancements in visual effects technology across the film industry.
